Sprott-Shaw Blog

Most of us will not be able to take advantage of the Olympic Games, and most of us will never know what its like to pass on the Olympic Torch. Canadian history has been and will be made over the next couple of weeks. SSCC has proudly participated and shared in this journey leading up to this world wide sporting event.

The Kelowna Community did experience some of this magic by way of the Torch traveling through on its way to Vancouver. Niomi Mattioda is a current Practical Nursing student who was given the honour of carrying this torch through Kelowna. The flame was passed to her by Gerry Zimmerman, a local hero. Gerry Zimmerman was the acting Fire Chief during the 2003 Kelowna fires which devastated our community. Through Gerry’s leadership and grace, he injected hope and pride into the hearts many during this tragic time. This just added to Niomi’s excitement.

Niomi was proud to have carried the torch and was encouraged to keep going through continous applause from the masses of people lined the streets to cheer her on. Niomi expressed how exciting and thrilled she was to be one of few to have this honour. The Kelowna Campus is very proud of Niomi and they all feel that she represented B.C. with pride.

Congratulations Niomi! May your experience be something that you can look back on with pride for years to come. We are all so proud of you!!

Kelowna students runs with 2010 Torch

♥ Doll

It’s not everyday that a student walks into class and is handed keys to a BRAND NEW CHEVY AVEO! Tears and excitement were had by all when Laura Davis received the news that she was the WINNER of the Chevy Aveo promotion. We can confirm that Laura’s prior vehicle was on its last legs, and that the Aveo is now in a good home. Laura loves it!

Laura feels like she has a ‘fresh start’ not only with her new career, but having a reliable car to enable her to succeed. Laura’s worries of car repairs, and finding money to maintain her ‘old beater’ are now a thing of the past, providing absolute focus on her studies as a Legal Secretary. Not only is she currently holding an honour roll status, but her attendance is sitting at 97%. We can all rest in knowing that Laura absolutely deserved to win!

Laura and her new ride!!

Congratulations!!!

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Mark Drysdale and Amanda from Tourism Nanaimo were guest speakers at Sprott Shaw Community College’s Nanaimo campus. Great information and resources were shared. Nanaimo Tourism have 400 plus members which is a great way to begin your networking because you never know when that next job will be from.

February 18 Ron Holmes from Canada department of National Defense (work renewal officer) Civilian and on March 10 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm the Nanaimo guest speaker will be Marg Fraser from VIHA Mental Health.

The guest speakers coming up sound exciting and I am sure will be have tons on information!!

♥ Doll

The Prince George campus this year decided to adopt a family through their local Salvation Army Christmas campaign. The family they adopted was a 32 year old single mom with 6 children; the ages ranged from 2 to 13 (5 boys and 1 girl).

The Prince George campus managed to collect a lot of food and clothing for everyone in the family. In the end they brought the family over 6 boxes of stuff! The families wish list were for warm clothing, hockey sticks, balls, board games for the boys and for the girl she wanted dollies and puppies. Everything on the list was achieved plus a little extra. The Prince George campus managed to get a $50.00 certificate for a turkey as well.

Sharon our lovely advisor from Prince George is also a billet coordinator for the Prince George local BCHL Hockey team and she managed to get 2 family passes for 8 which included popcorn, pop, mini hockey tickets and #1 FAN sponge hockey finger! How exciting!!

I am sure the family will enjoy everything which was given as there were so many generous donations… The Prince George campus hopes to do this again next year!

This is such a great thing to do! This time of year can be hard for a lot of people, it is the time to give and be grateful for what you have!

♥ Doll

In early October the New Westminster campus had been nominated for the annual business excellence award in New Westminster. Annually, the Chamber of Commerce sponsors a Celebration of Business Excellence competition process, in which companies are nominated, submissions are made and adjudication is done by five judges from the business community. This process culminates in a gala dinner at which the winners are announced.

The New West campus felt good and quite gratifying about being nominated. But winning is better!! The New West Campus won the award for Business excellence in New Westminster for 2009, and they received their plaque at the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored dinner. There were five other nominees including the Boat House Restaurant at the Inn on the Quay!

Doug the Director of the New West campus is very proud! Doug thanks his outstanding New Westminster team! From the superlative and absolutely exemplary job of Ursula, she always does from the time of admission and throughout the year, with the help of Ed and other PN advisers, and with the caring and upbeat assistance of Swashna and Doreen, through to the professional competent, and supportive teachers like Barb, Mitch, Terry and her ECE staff, Gail and her PN staff, Judith and her clinical instructors – and others who have taught for us – and finally to the job preparation stage and beyond with New Westminsters GSR Lindy, the satisfaction and success of the New West students and clients have been at the heart of everything the New West campus does. And this is true throughout Sprott Shaw College.

“Proudly serving the New Westminster Community for Over 15 years”

Congratulations to the New West campus, we are very proud of you!

Winner of the 2009 New Westminster Business Excellence Award

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The Vancouver Island Exhibition (VIEX) was held this past weekend and a drew a record crowd of close to 25,000 fair goers!! Sprott Shaw’s Nanaimo campus hosted a few draws one for a laptop and the other was a “Candy Count” which was a huge draw for all ages!!

The winner of the Candy Count

Our booth people

The Prince George campus Residential Construction Framing Technician students decided to lend a hand in helping the community for the quilt fair at the Prince George Exhibition. Sprott Shaw has partnered with the Women in Trades program and will be making 20 quilt stands. These 20 quilt stands will display 80 items at the quilt fair. The Women in trades program is great; all the students are willing to learn.

The Residential Construction Framing Technician students are halfway through there program and have received all their safety certificates. So now it is time for the hands on training and job shadowing which will end with on the job experience that takes place the last two weeks of August.

For the on the job experience they will be building sheds for the Habitat for Humanity. They will be building sheds for the last two homes which were built. Not only do they get job experience but they are doing a great thing by giving back to the community.

For these students who are out in the community helping with the Prince George Exhibition as well as building the sheds for the Habitat for Humanity it is a great way to become known in the community and make some connections. It’s all about networking!

The Residential Construction Framing Technician program will prepare you for a career in the rapidly growing construction industry, our Residential Construction Framing Technician program provides you with the opportunity to learn the methods, materials and technologies defining residential construction standards in North America today!

For more information go to http://www.sprottshaw.com or call 301 HIRE (4473)

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We all come from different backgrounds and experiences. Some of us feel we don’t measure up and that we will never amount to much. But some of those people have this voice inside that says “Yes you can”. When one listens to that voice and takes action on overcoming challenges, it’s a beautiful thing when an organization also adopts the ‘yes you can mentality’ and steps in to show the way!

Project literacy is a non-profit organization that says ‘YES YOU CAN’. The Kelowna campus has enjoyed a partnership with Project Literacy Kelowna for the past couple of years and together, they have helped students come to the realization that not only ‘CAN THEY’ but they ‘ALREADY HAVE’.

Students who need help with Math, English, Essay writing and study habits have been assisted in bringing their skills up to par to gain entrance into their desired program. This is a free service to anyone who feels they need help.

The help offered by many community volunteers and staff is so appreciated and makes a big difference to those who truly deserve it. Project literacy helps construct a future filled with possibility and potential.

On behalf of Kelowna Campus, Thank you Project Literacy for all you do for Sprott Shaw Community College and the Kelowna Community!

For more information: http://www.projectliteracykelowna.org

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Recently one of our Marketing reps Yolanda, received an e-mail regarding Early Childhood Education (ECE) graduates.

Currently Quarterway Child Care is looking for ECE graduates. They need to hire at least 3 new early child care educators this year! Quarterway Child Care is not the only employer looking to hire ECE students, many other employers are looking to hire ECE graduates as well.

Sprott Shaw is an approved College with the Early Childhood Education registry. Sprott Shaw’s Early Childhood Education program is less than 1 year long! The average starting wage for an Early Chidhood Educator is approximately $15.00 a hour with benefits! Which is great in my opinion, especially for a program which does not take you a full year to complete and there is always room to move up in positions.

We currently have the Early Childhood Education program at our Duncan campus!!

If you are a ECE graduate currently looking for employment in the Nanaimo area (or are willing to relocate) and are interested in the ECE position at Quarterway Child Care (250) 740 – 2599 or by e-mail quarterwaychildcare@shaw.ca

If you are interested in taking our ECE or any other of our great programs call 310 HIRE or http://sprottshaw.com/

♥ Doll

One of our advisors just sent me this article found in the Nanaimo Daily News, which is Nanaimo’s main paper.

“Health-care Is still the Best Bet for Future Job Security”
Here are some highlights from the article:

“Some workers are not deferring retirement, and it’s good news for employers trying to stay ahead of the labour shortage. But in some sectors demand is expected to rise so much, even that won’t help. That is already the case with Vancouver Island Health Authority, and demand will only grow in the health care sector. Last year Vancouver Island Health Authority created 2,400 new positions. At the same time 1,500 people left VIHA jobs…”

“… The reason for the growth? ‘Aging people and aging workforce,’ O’Connel said. The median age on Vancouver Island is now 44 years, compared to 40 provincially. That gap is expected to grow, as more retirees move to the Island…”

This is great news for our students and grads! At the Nanaimo campus we offer a host of health-care programs such as Practical Nursing, Resident Care Attendants/Home Support Worker, Community Support Worker-Assisted Living and Medical Office Assistant.

http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=60994acc-ce83-4bd9-b396-d83ae1d504ed&p=2

♥ Doll